Potsdam was a city of kings – a German Versaille where the Hohenzollern monarchy of Prussia constructed lavish palaces in which they could spend their summers. It was also the setting for the Potsdam Conference, where geopolitical giants Josef Stalin, Harry Truman and Winston Churchill met in the summer of 1945 to seal the post-war fate of Germany and Europe.
This 8-hour tour takes you to Potsdam to experience the pomp and grandeur of Prussia and explore the origins of the Cold War in both the historical city centre and the UNESCO-listed palace gardens. Your professional, local guide will provide an in-depth commentary throughout.
As part of the tour there will be time put aside to enter both the Sanssouci and Cecilienhof palaces. Please be aware that palace entry costs are not included as part of the tour and that during these parts of the tour you will be supplied with an audio guide for the duration of your visit to each palace.
Inclusions & Exclusions
✔ Professional, local guide
✖ Gratuities
✖ Food and drink
✖ Palace entry fees: 21€ per person
✖ Public Transportation Tickets: 10€ per person
Pickup Locations
1. Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Checkpoint Charlie
2. Hotel Les Nations
3. Apartments Residenz Prenzelberg
4. Hotel Pension Delta
5. Hotel Berlin, Berlin, A Member of Radisson Individuals
6. Grimm's Hotel
7. Hotel Abell
8. Hotel Kastanienhof
9. Mercure Hotel Berlin Mitte
10. The Mandala Hotel
11. martas Hotel Berlin Mitte
12. Holiday Inn Express Berlin City Centre, an IHG hotel
13. Profit Hotel
14. Alexander Suite
15. Mercure Hotel Berlin Wittenbergplatz
16. Novalis Hotel
17. B&b Hotel Berlin City-ost
18. Capri by Fraser Berlin
19. Hotel Riu Plaza Berlin
20. Numa Drift
Itinerary
1
Sanssouci Palace
Climb through the tiered vineyard up to Frederick the Great's iconic summer palace. Visit the grave of Prussia's most famous monarch, and learn how he became a legend. Go inside the palace and marvel at the stunning decor of the 13 rooms.
Duration: 45 minutes
2
Schloss Cecilienhof
See where Truman, Churchill and Stalin sat for plenary sessions when they met to shape the fate of post-war Germany and Europe at the Potsdam Conference.
Duration: 45 minutes
3
Glienicke Bridge
Cross the 'Bridge of Spies', from West Berlin into East Germany, where the US and USSR swapped captured agents during the Cold War.
Duration: 10 minutes
4
Marmorpalais
Gaze out over the Heiligen See (the 'Holy Lake') and take in beautiful views of Frederick William II's Marble Palace.
Duration: 5 minutes
5
Potsdam Friedenskirche
Explore the private church of the Prussian monarchy, and descend into the crypts to visit the graves of Frederick William IV and his wife Elizabeth, queen of Prussia and former princess of Bavaria.
Duration: 15 minutes
6
See where Frederick the Great housed his private art collection, a building the lead architect said would rival the splendor of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
Duration: 10 minutes
7
Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor)
Walk beneath the towering arch of Potsdam's Brandenburg Gate – built to celebrate the Prussian triumphs in the three Silesian Wars, and predating Berlin's Brandenburg Gate by roughly 20 years.
Duration: 10 minutes
8
Dutch Quarter
Wander through the close-set streets of picturesque, red-brick houses in the Dutch Quarter and learn how Dutch craftsmen were drawn to Potsdam in the early 18th century to contribute to the expansion of the then garrison town.
Duration: 10 minutes
9
Nauen Gate
Pass beneath another of Potsdam former city gates, built to designs created by Frederick the Great and the first example of British Gothic Revivalist architecture appearing in Germany.
Duration: 5 minutes
Additional info
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
